Coach - $$ - School. 30% 70% 0% is my guess on what has ignited recruiting.
I could easily give Franklin more credit.
24 Replies
1mo
It's not like VT is suddenly a top 5, or even top 10, spender in the country, even with all the recent commitment to athletics. Everything that the BOV voted on last year, all it does is just get VT back to the point where they're not actively being hamstrung by lack of spending.
I think this is mostly Franklin's doing, and the money is just putting him in a position to succeed.
(In response to this post by 40ozDistrict)
M
Marooned
1mo
to give us a reasonable shot at making the CFP, as well as to improve the ACC’s image and ratings heading into the critical GOR expiration and TV package windows.
(In response to this post by Synaesthesia)
1mo
True, we have more funding now, but there’s also just simply a lot of buzz around the Virginia Tech football program right now Big credit to Franklin and staff for bringing us back into the spotlight in recruiting. Hokies football is absolutely trending upward and the perception of the program has changed drastically since last year.
(In response to this post by Synaesthesia)
1mo
I'm curious to know approximately where we would fall now?
(In response to this post by Synaesthesia)
1mo
VT's current alleged budget, around 190M, would put it 7th as of the old data. Which, if they published the data in early 2024, might have actually been mostly spent in 2023, but obviously 1) everyone else is also increasing their budgets every year, 2) it most likely doesn't capture any NIL spending that doesn't filter through athletic departments, and 3) USA Today can only get these numbers from public schools, so, private schools that we can reasonably infer are big spenders (Notre Dame, Miami, etc.) not ranked at all. My guess is VT's probably closer to 15th or so, at best.
(In response to this post by Hate2SeeItEnd Hokie)
1mo
Granted the money is needed, but I still give most credit to Franklin.
(In response to this post by 40ozDistrict)
1mo
(In response to this post by JRHokie)
1mo
He actually starts winning on the field oh boy
(In response to this post by 40ozDistrict)
1mo
His downfall (if we can even call it that) is that his teams at Penn State couldn’t win at the highest level. That may be a bit unfair as they made it all the way to the national semifinals in 2025. I would love to see Franklin get us to that level.
(In response to this post by uvabasher)
1mo
When a recruit is down to you or Miami, or Ohio State, or UGA. It's not about the money anymore, those schools have big bags too. Lately we've been able to shop for nice things, which mean our competition is the schools that can also afford to buy nice things. You still have to close the deal. Schools like Pitt, BC, and even FSU can't afford to shop where we shop. The money helps, but there is still significant competition.
(In response to this post by 40ozDistrict)
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icelus
1mo
outbidding their #2 or #3 options financially.
** Edited by icelus at 6/9/2026, 10:14:16 AM
(In response to this post by TekkNerd)
1mo
We have several that blue blood schools really wanted. Guys like Bourque, Karhoff, and Bryce Woods come to mind. Did we pay them a lot? Probably. I am just not buying that Franklin is paying significantly more than market value for his recruits.
(In response to this post by icelus)
1mo
the guy that HIRED Franklin. Clearly, VT Football made a quantum leap with this hire. Also, credit Virginia Tech - the university, the location, the fans - for appealing to Franklin over other higher-profile programs. Truth is, VT Football sucked and a head coach gig here was not an attractive position post-Beamer. But, the incredible transformation (of a level only recently demonstrated at Indiana) was Franklin. OK, Franklin+... whatever the plus is. Thank goodness!
(In response to this post by 40ozDistrict)
1mo
Franklin is the reason we have money so he deserves credit there, but it’s painfully obvious that the highest bidder gets the worm almost every time.
Coaching makes the difference if the offers match, but I have a suspicion we’re spending a lot more on HS recruiting compared to the portal than other schools.
It’s a good long term strategy, guys are easier to keep in the fold than to bring in every year on auction. It just doesn’t lead to immediate success on the field.
The only impact the school has is location for some players who grew up nearby.
** Edited by soflahokie at 6/9/2026, 7:20:19 AM
(In response to this post by 40ozDistrict)
1mo
** Edited by Scream_On_D at 6/9/2026, 5:32:44 PM
(In response to this post by 40ozDistrict)
1mo
No idea what the fools in Happy Valley were thinking but whatever. Their loss is our gain.
(In response to this post by Scream_On_D)
1mo
VT and CJF are not competing on $$$. The $$$ are giving them a seat at the table and they are competing on the intangibles.
(In response to this post by 40ozDistrict)
1mo
…one.
(In response to this post by VT ChemE 1986)